Friday, January 30, 2026

Life Goes On by William Ogden Haynes

Kelly

Life Goes On

In the foothills of the Adirondacks, there is a lush 

glade embraced by the arms of surrounding mountains. 

And in that glade is an abandoned house, the front door 

hanging by a single rusty hinge, its remaining shards 

of window glass aflame with the burgeoning sunrise, 

where a lone spider casts her threads into the light. 

The house sits alone as it has for decades, listening 

to the music of wind and leaves, watching the seasons 

come and go. Some might think that because man has 

left, this place has lost its wonder, but they would be 

wrong. Today, morning fog will rise up from the bed 

of rich soil like smoke from a campfire. The stars will 

still be visible, showing hints of heaven in the partially 

dark sky. Later, the mist will spread aloft, as the sunrise 

burns it away, and dim rays will illuminate gray rocks 

bearded with moss. The stream, gently tousled by a 


breeze, will launch ripples across the surface, leaving 

a snoring silver carp undisturbed at the river bottom. 

And nearby, there is a crack in the sidewalk, uplifted 

by the spreading root of a river oak. Gradually, the 

heavy cement will yield to other roots, producing more 

cracks and opportunities for growth. And then, fragile 

tendrils will unfurl one lime-green leaf at a time, 

painting new life over the gray canvas of old concrete. 


© William Ogden Haynes


William Ogden Haynes

William Ogden Haynes is a poet and author of short fiction from Alabama, born in Michigan. He has published several collections of poetry, and many of his poems and short stories have appeared in literary journals and anthologieshttp://www.williamogdenhaynes.com

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Life Goes On by William Ogden Haynes

Kelly Life Goes On In the foothills of the Adirondacks, there is a lush  glade embraced by the arms of surrounding mountains.  And in that...